Come join us this summer on the R/V Atlantis June 26 - July 14 as we explore how water flows in the earth's crust beneath the seafloor, examine geochemistry, rock alteration and microbes living in the seafloor - all off the west coast of the United States. This expedition is a direct follow-on from IODP Expedition 327 during the summer of 2010, when subseafloor observatories (CORKS) were placed in the seafloor on the Juan de Fuca ridge. This summer's expedition will return to these installations and use the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) JASON to download data, retrieve samples, and make any necessary repairs to on-going experiments.

We will focus on the nature and process of real scientific research. There will be many opportunities to be involved!

Sharon Cooperhas served as Assistant Director of Deep Earth Academy at Ocean Leadership since March 2007. Prior to joining Ocean Leadership, Sharon was the educator on the core team developing the Smithsonian’s Ocean Hall. She has also worked as a contractor doing education work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and has a background in informal and conservation education.

In between projects (and making dinner), she writes children’s books and magazine articles on science and social studies topics. She loves to cook and bake, dance, travel, run and hang out with her boys: husband Jason and sons Reuven, Judah and Yaron. She has traveled, both for work and play, to Madagascar, China, Israel, Venezuela, Japan, Europe, and many parts of Canada and the U.S.

Sharon is serving as the Education and Outreach PI on this expedition.

Kenneth Hamner is a science instructor at Smoky Hill High School, Aurora, Colorado, currently teaching students AP Biology; IB Biology and Honors Biology. He has run juggling and National Ocean Science Bowl clubs at Smoky Hill as well. He received a Bachelor Degrees in Biology and Microbiology from Colorado State University and a Masters Degree in Genetics from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. Ken worked in several chemical and biological science labs until beginning his current teaching assignment six years ago. Travel experiences include Northern Europe (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, Ireland, and Iceland), Australia, Hawaii and various other US locations. Hobbies include juggling, drumming and other musical pursuits, writing, stop motion photography, bicycling, krav maga and gaming.

Jackie Kane teaches physics at St Ursula Academy (high school) in Toledo, Ohio. She sailed on the JOIDES Resolution as part of Expedition 327. She holds two master degrees in education and approaches her 25th year of teaching in Ohio, grades 7-12. Jackie participates in workshops and research experiences, particularly in remote sensing and nanotechnology at the University of Toledo, vacuum science through the American Vacuum Society, and alternate energy through a BP grant (constructing a wind and solar powered-lamppost outside her classroom at school, 2007). She advises JETS and Science clubs at her school, each of which has recently won Engineering and NASA competitions.

In what seems like a long time ago, Jackie believes her trip around the world on the Universe Campus ship, repelling off cliffs and careening down the Green River in Colorado Outward Bound, finessing her way through motherhood, while relying heavily on her faith and husband of 36 years, adds to the way she looks at science, education and communication.

Lisa Strong is a multimedia storyteller and science journalist. She's a writer, producer, cinematographer, video editor, and still photographer. She runs Strong Mountain Productions, a small media production company specializing in nature, science, and history stories for museum exhibits, science outreach and other web multimedia. Recently, Lisa worked for San Francisco’s hands-on science museum, the Exploratorium. She was a video producer for Ice Stories, a special project where she helped cover polar research from the field – in Greenland and Antarctica – during International Polar Year. Other clients have included Yosemite National Park, National Geographic's Crittercam, the African American Museum and Library at Oakland, and the Petersburg Marine Mammal Center. Lisa also teaches her craft. She helped develop the multimedia class at the UCSC Science Communication program. She’s also taught photography and visual storytelling techniques in Yosemite, SE Alaska, and in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lisa has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara, and a graduate degree from the UCSC Science Communication Program. AND, she sings in a blues/rock band in San Francisco.

Jim Ringlein is a curator at the North Museum in Lancaster, PA. He joins the EOC group of this mission as a museum educator, former engineer and high school teacher. Most importantly, he is the father of ten year old Veronica-- whose victory in the J/aRt contest 2010 elementary division led him to a spot on this expedition!

Jim invited the JOIDES Resolution education group and scientist Steve Hovan to come to the North Museum while the group was in Lancaster PA last June, delivering their educational program to Veronica's school. That was her prize for winning last year's elementary division contest. The JR and the North Museum collaborated again in August of 2010 for a ship to shore program for museum visitors. Jim was invited and served on the Program Review for Deep Earth Academy in March of 2011.

Jim has great interest and affection for all types of robotics, as he coached First Lego League teams for several years. Although a classroom physics teacher for twenty years, he is more of a science generalist than a specialist since joining the North Museum three and a half years ago as their Curator of Science and Head of Education. Jim is also Fair Director of Lancaster (PA) County's Science Fair and is very proud of the success his finalists achieved at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair this year... with over $15,000 and six awards between the two students!!

Randi Brennonlives on the rainy side of Hawaii Island and teaches alongside her husband in the Project-Based Learning program for middle school students they both designed and implemented. She takes her students out of the classroom as much as possible to study the world around them, partner with community leaders and scientists, and participate in culturally-aware environmental stewardship. Randi participates in a wide range of professional partnerships in education, including sitting on the Education Roundtable for Mokupapapa Discovery Center, volunteering at the Hilo Marine Mammal Response Network, hosting Science Cafes, serving as an awareness ambassador for Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. She has also written curriculum for the Pacific American Foundation, published articles in education periodicals, and been highlighted as a voice for charter schools in various independent films and vidoes. When not exploring with her students or thinking about education, Randi spends her time with her husband and two teenage sons, indulging her curiosity, goofing around, taking pictures like crazy, and reading voraciously.

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